We often check into Ils Vont, the newish Website that tracks celeb sightings at local eateries, to see where Jeremy Piven is chewing out his mom these days (actually, that happened at Nobu Malibu). Imagine our surprise when we saw that last week, Southern Hospitality overtook the Waverly Inn as the most celeb-infested restaurant in town. Given that Gael Greene, during her recent visit to Justin’s, saw little more than “a clutch of babes pretending to eat [and] an army of guys sucking beer from the bottle,” we can only conclude the place’s flack is milking those occasional boy-band drop-ins for all they’re worth  which kind of belies owner Eytan Sugarman’s pre-opening statement, “We’re not trying to be trendy.” Not you, maybe. But your publicist just might be.
Ils Vont [Official site]
Insatiable Critic: Southern Hospitality [NYM]
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Last night we sneaked into a friends and family dinner, ahead of today’s glitzy opening party, at Southern Hospitality, Justin Timberlake’s restaurant that we broke news of back when Sir James Famularo brokered the deal in April. We can confirm that the barbecue is at least good enough for JT, who, as our amateur paparazzi work shows, was tucked into a booth with his partner Eytan Sugarman, owner of Suede and Cherry Lounge. From behind our margarita glass, we couldn’t tell whether he was devouring the fried “pickle-sicles” or the haystack onion rings — a plate of fried onions piled higher than Marge Simpson’s hair. But we’ll post the menu and another exclusive interior shot later today so you can use your imagination.
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A couple of weeks ago we informed you that a mystery Grammy performer had just closed a deal to open a restaurant in the former home of Il Monello. Now we can tell you that man is none other than Justin Timberlake. According to the exclusive broker for both sides, James Famularo of NYCRS, the Tennessee boy plans to open what’s described as a laid-back, festive barbecue joint called Southern Hospitality. As with his first restaurant Destino, the shaved showman will partner with Eytan Sugarman, owner of bygone clubs Suede and producer Timbaland’s Harlem venture Cherry Lounge. Famularo says that Timberlake will have a larger stake in the new place: “I heard a lot of people with Tennessee accents,” he said of a recent drop-in. “Justin is bringing a lot of his group up to be a part of this.” If all goes as planned, the opening will coincide with the conclusion of the FutureSex/LoveSounds tour in late April.  Daniel MaurerEarlier:Mystery Grammy Performer Set to Rock the Upper East SideREAD MORE »PREV1NEXT